Trunk.



2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

0. M. HOWES. TRUNK.

APPLICATION I'ILED OCT. 7, 1908.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

nun err S AET @FEECE.

TRUNK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Conn MERRIAM Howns, citizen of the United States, residing at V-Jashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and e:

act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

his invention relates in general to trunks but more particularly to that class of trunks commonly known as dresser trunks; and it consists essentially of the general arrangement and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter'fully described in this specification and briefly stated in the claims.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to so construct the trunk and arrange its several parts that it may be readily and quickly converted into a dresser or bureau.

Another object of the invention is to provide the body of the trunk with a plurality of drawers, so that its contents, packed in the several drawers, will. not become disarranged or injured during transportation, as is usu ally the case when the ordinary or single compartment trunk is used.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon a complete disclosure thereof. in the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the trunk converted into a dresser or bureau; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the trunk closed and standing on one end; Fig.3, a

perspective view of the lid or cover, and Fig. 4 a detail of one of the slidable hinges.

Referring to the several views, the numeral 1 indicates the body of the trunk, which is of ordinary construction, preferably rectangular in shape; 2 the lid or cover, which is detachable, and 3 the removable tray.

The body of the trunk is divided into a plurality of compartments by metal artitions 4, arranged transversely the trun in a vertical position,.so that when the trunk is used as a dresser the partitions will be in a horizontal position. The partitions are preferably of less length than the depth of the trunk, so as to provide a shallow space 5 in which the tray maybe seated, the upper ortion of the tray being received in the lic or cover of the trunk, as shown in Fig. 2. Each compartment is provided with a slidable drawer 6, which is'of the same length as the partitions, and when the trunk is being used as such the drawers are held against move- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed fictober 7, 1908.

Patented ling. 10, 1909.

Serial No. 456,678.

ment by means of a detachable locking-bar 7, which has one end seated in a socket or recess 8, and the other end secured by a suitable catch 9, shown in Fig. 2. Any old and well-known locking-device may be used in place of the catch to lock the drawers against being tampered with by mischievous persons, if desired.

The tr ya is constructed without the usual front piece, so as to afford ready access to articles which may be laid thereon, when the trunk is being used as a dresser, the lid 10 being provided with a hinged piece 1 1, which, when thelid is closed forms the front of the tray, as shown in Fig. 2. A portion of the tray may be provided with any desired number of compartments for the reception of toilet and other articles, and the lid 10 may be provided with a looking-glass 12, ca able of being adjusted to a higher position, eing unconfined at the top, and there temporarily held by sticking a pin beneath its lower edge. Small racks 13 may be fastened to the lid, at each side of the looking-glass, for the reception of scissors, nail-files, and other similar articles, and suitable supports 14 are employed to sup ort the lid in proper position.

The trunkid or cover is of ordinary con- 'struction, and, instead of being permanently hinged to the body of the trunk, in the usual manner, it is detachablyconnected thereto, preferably by means of staples 15 and hooks 16, the former being secured to the trunk body and the latter to the lid or cover 2, a lock 17 of any approved design or style being employed to securely lock thelid or cover in place when the trunk is used as such.

In using the trunk as a dresser, the lid or cover and the tray are removed, the trunk is then stood on its proper end, and the tray placed lengthwise across the upper end of thetrunk, as shown in Fig. 1. Curtains or filling-out pieces 18, 18, are then arranged at each end of the tray and those portions of the front which project beyond the sides of the trunk, as shown in said figure. The curtains, if made of a woven material, may be permanently attached to the tray and folded over upon the lid when the tray is to be placed in the trunk. I After the curtains have een properly adjusted, the lid of the tray is thrown back and the trunk converted into a dresser, presenting a neat and an attractive appearance as such, and serving as a useful and valuable adjunct to the dressing-room or bed-chamber.

out departing from the spirit of my inven- It Will be understood that any desired ari rangement of compartments may be made in the tray, and that one of the drawers may be provided with a number of suitable compartments arranged in any desired manner.

Various other changes may be made, such as constructing the filling-out pieces or ourtains of imitation Wood, or other suitable material, and detachably connecting the same to the projecting ends of the tray, withtion or sacrificing its principle. When thus attached, the filling-out pieces, when not in use, may be placed on top ol the tray in the trunk.

Havin thus lull T described mv invention What I claim, 1s

1. In a convertible trunk, the combination with the body having a plurality of drawers, of a tray provnled With iilhng-out pieces at its ends, and having a lid carrying a hinged extension, said tray adapted to be supported upon one end of the trunk body to convert the same into a dresser.

2. In a trunk provided with a plurality of 25 drawers and having a detachable lid or cover, of a removable tray provided with a lid carrying a hinged extension adapted to form the front of the tray, said tray being provided with filling-out pieces, whereby the trunk may be converted into a dresser by placing the tray upon one end of the trunk, and neans for locking the drawers.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

JORA MERRIAM lIlUVVES.

Vv itnesses:

H. N. JENKINS, J. H. NO'PLINCJIAM. 

